Eloise Simpkin Cole passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 14, 2017. A vibrant, independent, and capable woman to the end, Eloise had celebrated her 98th birthday just two weeks prior with her family at St. Augustine Beach, where she swam in the ocean, read, talked with her great-grandson via FaceTime, and told stories of her incredible life over birthday cake and many candles.
Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Eloise was a woman of challenging beginnings. The youngest of two, she lost her father at the age of 9 and subsequently moved from Philadelphia to Birmingham, Alabama, to live near her mother’s family. Eloise graduated from Smith College in 1940 and married her first husband, Frederick Hartung, who died on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Their only child, Anne, died from pneumonia at the age of 2. Steadfast and optimistic, even in the face of hardship, Eloise remarried and began anew.
In 1946, she married William J. Cole, the best man in her first wedding, who became her lifelong partner and husband of 53 years. Together, they lived in Millerton and Amenia, New York, where Eloise wrote articles for the local newspaper and helped her husband in his insurance business. Their love of the ocean brought them to St. Augustine, where she developed and supervised the school programs for Old St. Augustine, now the Spanish Quarter Living History Museum. Eloise was an avid sailor on her boat Windrose, and was an active member of the St. Augustine Yacht Club.
Eloise lived out her golden years in St. Augustine. She was a treasured friend in the Silver Sneakers community, where she exercised three times a week. She enjoyed going for walks in the neighborhood and watching for porpoises in the Salt Run. Eloise was known for her sharp wit and fierce intellect. She was a voracious reader and taught herself how to use an iPad at the age of 95 in order to follow her family on Facebook and video conference with her great-grandson on FaceTime.
Eloise’s legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband, William J. Cole, in 1999. She is survived by her daughters, Emily Cole of St. Augustine and Eloise Cole Neebe of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (husband Alan Neebe); two grandchildren, Katherine Neebe of Washington, D.C., and Steven Neebe of Mountain View, California (wife Diana Neebe); and great-grandson, Charlie Neebe. Her vital presence is sorely missed by family, extended family, neighbors, and lifelong friends.
The family will hold a private memorial service to celebrate the rich life of their beloved matriarch. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to Heifer International or an animal rescue organization.
